Community Development Director

Overview

The Community Development Department’s mission is to assist residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in improving and developing properties in a manner consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and adopted community standards. The Department provides services including long-range and current planning, building, electrical, and fire plan review and inspection, land use entitlements, civil plan review, building code and land use enforcement, and geographic information systems (GIS).

The Community Development Director operates under the general direction of the City Manager and serves as a member of the City’s executive leadership team. The Director is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, and strategic direction of the Community Development Department, including planning, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and related regulatory functions.

This position provides policy guidance and professional expertise to the City Manager, elected officials, boards, and commissions on land use, development regulations, and growth management matters. The Director oversees departmental operations, budgets, and personnel; ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws; and works collaboratively with other City departments and external agencies to support orderly development, infrastructure coordination, and community planning initiatives.

• Direct and oversee the City’s community development functions, including planning, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and related regulatory services.
• Provide strategic leadership and policy direction for land use planning and development consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and adopted regulations.
• Administer planning, building, and construction inspection services, either directly or through contracted services.
• Lead, supervise, and evaluate department staff, including hiring, performance management, discipline, and termination, in accordance with City policies, procedures, and applicable labor agreements; recommend personnel actions to the City Manager as appropriate.
• Develop, manage, and administer the departmental budget, including reviewing and approving priorities, allocations of funds, staffing, materials, and work plans.
• Participates as a member of the City Leadership Team and is responsible for developing policies and objectives.
• Serve as the City’s designated State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Responsible Official; administer SEPA in accordance with adopted City policies, procedures, and delegated authority.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including requirements tied to grant funding, from application through audit.
• Oversee preparation and review of land use plans, development proposals, staff reports, and recommendations for the Planning Commission, Hearing Examiner, City Council, and other decision-making bodies, consistent with delegated authority.
• Administer, interpret, and enforce City ordinances and regulations related to land use and development, including zoning, subdivisions, critical areas, shoreline management, building and construction codes, stormwater regulations, and SEPA, as authorized by law and City policies.
• Manage and implement updates to the Comprehensive Plan; recommend amendments to land use policies, zoning, and development regulations as needed.
• Coordinate community development activities with other City departments to support integrated planning, infrastructure coordination, and service delivery.
• Represent the City in interactions with local, regional, state, and federal agencies and organizations, including Snohomish County, Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), Snohomish County Tomorrow (SCT), regional transit agencies, and the Washington State Department of Commerce.
• Monitors and evaluates legislative and policy developments affecting departmental functions; advises the City Manager, City Council on policy options and implementation strategies.
• Prepare and present ordinances, resolutions, reports, and other materials to the City Council; attend City Council, and other meetings as…